In Xinjiekou, the Earl of Yongwu's Palace.

The old uncle's mourning hall was set up in the mourning shed in the front yard of the earl's palace, which was supposed to be closed for 7749 days, but because the weather was getting hotter, it was necessary to stop for 3721 days for mourning. In the mourning shed, there is a nanmu coffin that is one person high. In front of the coffin were all kinds of melon and fruit offerings, and Yongqing led several cousins to kneel and return the salute. On the left and right, there are 7749 monks and Taoist priests doing rituals, and the sound of wooden fish and chanting scriptures in the courtyard is mixed together.

Cao Hao and Ma Jun arranged for the chief to offer sacrifices, and then the two of them offered incense in front of the spirit.

Yongqing's expression was slightly haggard, his eyes were bloodshot, and when he saw two friends coming, he got up to greet him.

Cao Hao and Ma Jun inevitably had a few words of consolation, the old man died in his seventies, which can be regarded as a joy and mourning, and he must take care.

Yongqing nodded in response, but his expression could not hide the pain. Cao Hao thought of himself three years ago, the pain of bereavement, where comfort can be alleviated, so he didn't say more.

Ma Junyin saw that it was Yongsheng who followed Wan Jiha to pick up relatives and friends, thinking of Yongqing's future situation, even if his parents were afraid of his daughter-in-law's affection, it was inevitable that he would be biased.

Three friends, are relatively speechless. The brothers Wanjiha and Rocha respectfully welcomed the two young men in, the twenty-six or seven-year-old in front, with red phoenix eyes, slightly thin lips, and a smile on their faces; The twenty-something in the back is a fist higher than the person in front, and his appearance is somewhat similar to the person in front, except that the corners of his eyes are slightly downward, his facial features are more prominent, and his gestures have a kind of murderous atmosphere.

Wanjiha attacked the earl, and it was already a superb; Luo Cha is a second-grade waiter, and the two of them can be treated like this, and the answer is about to come out.

When Ma Jun saw someone coming, he bowed his head and said to Cao Hao: "It's the ninth elder brother and the fourteenth elder brother who have arrived!" ”

Nine elder brother Yinyu (Tang), born in the twenty-second year of Kangxi, is twenty-six years old this year, and his biological mother, Concubine Yi, Guo Luoluo, was just named Beizi last month. Concubine Yi, one of the four main palace concubines in Kangxi's harem, has two elder brothers, the eldest son is the fifth elder brother Heng Prince Yinqi, and the second son is the ninth elder brother Yinqi.

Nine Elder Brother Yinyu is a well-known "Eight Masters Party" in history, and he is the right-hand man of Eighth Elder Brother Yinci (si), so he was disgusted by Yongzheng, and ended up extremely miserably after Yongzheng came to power.

Fourteenth elder brother Yinzhen (zhen), born in the twenty-seventh year of Kangxi, is twenty-one years old this year, and his biological mother Concubine De is also the son of Beizi who was sealed last month. As the half-brother of the fourth elder brother Yinzhen, he is a "Eight Masters Party".

Seeing the two of the "Nine Dragons Winning the Throne", Cao Hao was very emotional, even if he was fighting for the throne, he had to be a little technical.

There are four elder brothers gathered under the banner of the "Eight Masters Party", but they don't even have a single advisor who can speak up, and they don't even understand the truth of making a big move.

Kangxi abolished the crown prince last year and said a sentence about the recommendation of the prince by hundreds of officials, but these people went up to the ground with moths and encouraged half of the courtiers to jointly recommend the famous eighth elder brother. This is simply a provocation to the imperial power, how can Kangxi allow it? The sentence "The mother's family is cheap, how can she be the crown prince" was evaluated, which shattered the dreams of the brothers.

Last month, Kangxi reinstated the crown prince and divided the adult princes at the same time. In addition to the eldest brother and the thirteenth elder brother who fell ill due to the abolition of the prince last year, the third elder brother Yinzhi was named Prince Cheng, the fourth elder brother Yinzhen was the Prince of Yong, the fifth elder brother Yinqi was the Prince Heng, the seventh elder brother Yinyou, the tenth elder brother Yinzhen I was the king of the county, and the ninth elder brother Yinzhen, the twelfth elder brother Yinzhen, and the fourteenth elder brother Yinzhen were Beizi. I don't have the share of the eighth elder brother who is known as a virtuous person.

For these things of the royal family, Cao Hao made up his mind to stay away, even if the ninth elder brother Yinyu once poached Yu Tian's two imperial chefs and ruined Lin Xiazhai's business, he had nothing to resent.

With Cao Yin and Zhuang Chang's two old foxes here, how can people calculate in vain, if there is no Ninth Elder Brother as a guise, so that the Cao family will be at a loss, there will be no Kangxi behind the maintenance, and those tea gardens may have someone to do it a long time ago. It's just that there are some words, and I just know it in my heart, thinking of Gu Na, who was on an errand in the Nine Elder Brothers' Mansion, Cao Hao was a little irritable.

The two princes came to sacrifice, in addition to the in-law relationship between the fourteenth elder brother and the earl's mansion, it can also reflect the importance that the "Eight Masters" attach to the Wanyan family.

Cao Hao and Ma Jun had already stepped aside, but the two princes still looked at this side after finishing the incense. Their brothers had all toured south with the car in their early years, but Cao Hao was still a few years old at that time. The fourteenth elder brother looked arrogant and cold, but the ninth elder brother smiled slightly and walked over to the two: "Isn't this the new Jinshi Ma Jun?" Why, when I saw the master, I didn't see the courtesy, and I wanted the master to come over in person! As he spoke, he looked at Cao Hao beside Ma Jun.

Ma Jun looked slightly embarrassed, and bowed his head and said, "The villain has seen the ninth master, the fourteenth master!" ”

Ma Jun is good friends with Yongqing, and has been to the Fourteenth Elder Brother's Mansion and has met the Ninth Elder Brother.

Cao Hao stood behind Ma Jun, he couldn't avoid it, and he couldn't just bow over like Ma Jun, so he had to follow the etiquette of the flag man, flicked his sleeves, and made a thousand: "The slave Cao Hao has seen the ninth master and the fourteenth master, and the two masters are auspicious!" ”

Brother Jiu smiled on his face: "You are Cao Hao, it is not easy to see you." ”

The fourteenth elder brother's face was ugly: "Cao Hao, the master asked you, did you deliberately break Guishan's leg by stepping on the horse!" ”

What's the matter, the cousin of the in-laws didn't speak, why is it your turn to be a follower? Cao Hao was unscrupulous in his heart, but his face was terrified, and he looked at the fourteenth elder brother very suspiciously: "Fourteenth master, how can you say this?" ”

Seeing Cao Hao's slight frowning and his face full of panic, the ninth elder brother and the fourteenth elder brother did not speak, Yongqing couldn't stand it first, and stepped forward and said: "Two masters, Cao Hao is still young and does not act well, don't blame him, please drink tea in the hall!" After speaking, he said to Cao Hao: "Your body has not yet healed, and you still need to recuperate, so I won't keep you much today!" ”。

Even if Yongqing doesn't say it, Cao Hao is too lazy to stay. He doesn't have the heart to climb the dragon and attach the phoenix, and he has no interest in being a slave in front of these princes. Cao Hao first said goodbye to the two princes, then said goodbye to Wanjiha and Luo Cha, and finally the two brothers Yongqing and Yongsheng.

Out of the door of the Earl's Palace, Cao Hao and Ma Jun both breathed a sigh of relief. Yongqing sent the two out, and when he saw their relieved appearance, he couldn't laugh or cry. can talk to the two princes, how many people can't ask for it, but the two in front of them are like cats and mice.

When he left on horseback, Cao Hao asked Ma Jun: "Have you offended Brother Jiu?" Otherwise, why do you look like that? ”

Ma Jun shook his head and said, "My little jinshi, where do I dare to offend the prince, it is really gracious and powerful, if you can hide, you can hide!" ”

"Where is this, have you ever accepted the love of Brother Jiu?" Cao Hao was a little surprised.

Ma Jun smiled bitterly: "It's really a great kindness!" ”

It turned out that before the start of the exam, Ma Jun had followed Yongqing to the Fourteenth Elder Brother's Mansion, and just in time for the Ninth Elder Brother to have a treat in Taoranju, he was dragged to join in the fun. I don't want to go and take a look, many people with official family backgrounds are here. Among the guests invited by Brother Jiu, there happened to be the main examiner of the current examination. According to the avoidance, candidates and examiners are not allowed to meet before the exam. However, since it was the prince's treat, and it was an "unintentional" encounter, everyone naturally didn't care.

Although the rules in the examination room are strict and there is nothing to cheat, but a person like Ma Jun who was admitted to the Jinshi had to accept the favor of Brother Jiu.

Cao Hao listened, and knew in his heart that these princes were drunkards who did not mean to drink, and they clearly had the idea of beating scholars, but in fact, they were staring at the power of the family behind them. It's just so wanton, is it really impossible to treat Emperor Kangxi as a deaf and dazzling old man?

Out of Xinjiekou, Cao Hao and Ma Jun waved goodbye. According to the rules of the Ministry of History, a new jinshi like Ma Jun will have to wait for the first half of the year to be able to find a real shortage.

*

West of the city, Cao Fu.

When Cao Hao came back from horseback, he saw a canopy and a Zhulun carriage parked at the gate.

Hearing the sound of horses' hooves, the people inside lifted the curtain, revealing a white little face: "Cao Hao, you're back, I've been waiting for you for a while!" ”

The person who came was Bao Ya Gege from the Pingjun Palace, with a plain face, wearing a light cyan flag suit, and no jewelry on his head and hands.

Because of Cao Hao's beating, Bao Ya once pulled the red flag disciples to avenge Cao Hao, although in the end, under the intervention of King Pingjun, the group fight was not staged, but Cao Hao was still a little grateful, and he didn't like her as much as before.

"Gege has been to the Earl's Court?" Cao Hao asked.

"Hmm!" Bao Ya nodded: "I went to annoy Sister Yongjia, and when I came out, I saw you entering through the front door, so I came over and waited for you to return home." I've received all the gadgets you gave me, and I'm here to thank you today! ”

It turned out that Cao Hao came back from Changping and brought a few pairs of hares and mountain hedgehogs. Seeing that Amethyst was liked by several girls, Cao Hao thought of her sister's side, and pregnant women didn't seem to be suitable for raising these small animals. Because he thought that Bao Ya had not thanked him for his grievances last time, he chose to send the little rabbit and the little hedgehog, which was a thank you gift.

"Come on, just go in, why wait at the door? Let's go in, I'll accompany Gege to play two games! Cao Hao saw the little girl's eyes shining at her, thinking of Cao Yi in Jiangning, her heart softened, and she said with a smile.

"Well, that's great! Sister Yongjia is filial piety at home, and now there is no one to play chess with me! Bao Ya got off the car happily, without the slightest elegance of the lady, and the two mothers-in-law who followed hurriedly stepped forward to dissuade: "Gege pay attention to manners, this is not in line with etiquette!" ”

Bao Ya's eyes widened: "Don't be verbose, say it again, I will let my sister-in-law punish you for two months of silver." ”

The two mothers-in-law wanted to persuade again, but they felt sorry for Yinzi, covering their mouths, and their expressions were a little ridiculous.

Cao Hao knew what the two mothers-in-law were worried about, the Cao family did not have a female dependent in Beijing at the moment, and it was really not in accordance with the etiquette law for a person like Baoya to come to the door alone. Cao Hao just looked at the little girl being lonely, couldn't bear it for a while, and wanted to play chess with her, but didn't want to have a tongue about right and wrong. So, he led Baoya to the living room and arranged for many maids to wait inside and outside the house, which was regarded as avoiding suspicion.

When Bao Ya saw the chessboard, she had changed her look, and she was more serious than she had ever been.

Cao Hao only knew a little about piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, of course, she was not her opponent, and she was defeated in less than two quarters of an hour.

Bao Ya couldn't get enough of it, and begged for another plate. Cao Hao didn't want to lose too badly, so he fell cautiously, and after all, he couldn't change the defeat.

Bao Ya played two games, although Cao Hao was not a good opponent, but he was already satisfied and went back to the palace with a smile.